The first season of The Penguin is over and it was as good as we hoped it would be. Seeing Oswald Cobblepot escape alive after disturbing the families of dangerous criminals was an experience like no other. Of course, we’ll see this character return in The Batman films and hopefully in a second season. However, it is also true that we will have to wait a long time before we see the character on screen again. But don’t worry: there are several other TV shows like The Penguin that you can binge-watch while you wait. Yes, these shows are incredibly good and will make you appreciate the crime drama genre even more.

1. Peacemaker

• IMDb: 8.3
• With : John Cena, Danielle Brooks
• Seasons: 1
• Episodes: 8

Of course, you might think we’re suggesting Peacemaker because, like Penguin, he also comes from DC Comics. But that’s not the only similarity between these two shows. Like Oz, Christopher Smith (Peacemaker) also had a troubled past. He suffered a lot at the hands of his father, who was racist and wanted to raise his son the same way.

Like The Penguin, Peacemaker does not shy away from violence and its emotional value. Even though Peacemaker takes a comedic approach, it will surely remind you of Penguin in every episode. It will also make you wonder or wish for a scenario where Oz would have walked the path of Peacemaker and become an anti-hero instead of an antagonist.

2. Guardians

• IMDb: 8.2
• With : Regina King, Don Johnson
• Seasons: 1
• Episodes: 9

We all remember Zack Snyder’s Watchmen, the masterpiece that never got enough recognition. However, with time, the fandom began to recognize the beauty of the film and so the creators decided to shed more light on these underrated characters through a television show.

Like The Penguin, Watchmen is a dark and violent series that will make you fear for your favorite characters. This will keep you on your toes, always wondering what might happen next and which character might be killed.

3. Titans

• IMDb: 7.5
• With : Brenton Thwaites, Anna Diop
• Seasons: 4
• Episodes: 49

The Penguin TV show tells you that not all villains are completely evil, and the Titans series tells the fandom that not all heroes are perfect. There is an ounce of goodness in the heart of every villain and darkness in the heart of every hero.

Titans has supernatural elements and isn’t as grounded as The Penguin, but it’s very similar to HBO Max’s latest show. The TV show focuses on the dark side of Gotham and all crime families. Instead of focusing on a single villain or hero, Titans gives each hero and villain multiple chances to shine. Jason Todd, in particular, will remind you of Oz. Jason is also a broken boy like Oz, but unlike Cobblepot, Jason is given the right hand that guides him at the right time.

4. London Gangs

• IMDb: 8
• With : Joe Cole, Colm Meaney
• Seasons: 2
• Episodes: 17

In The Penguin, after the death of Carmine Falcone, his daughter Sofia must take matters into her own hands to stop the forces trying to take over her father’s empire. Similarly, Gangs of London sees Sean Wallace having to fight for his rights after his father dies, leaving his entire criminal empire behind.

Finn Wallace, London’s most influential crime boss, is killed. Following this unfortunate incident, his son Sean Wallace must take his place in the family and in the organization. However, as a newcomer, he faces several challenges in achieving what he desires.

5. Gotham

• IMDb: 7.8
• With : Ben McKenzie, Donal Logue
• Seasons: 5
• Episodes: 100

Gotham is nowhere near canon to The Penguin or The Batman, but it’s surely one of the best crime drama series for DC fans. We’ve always looked at Gotham from Batman’s perspective, with Bruce Wayne always in the background.

However, the Gotham TV show primarily focuses on Bruce Wayne’s childhood. It introduces you to younger versions of several popular characters, including Rachael and Cat Woman. Like The Penguin, the Gotham TV series takes you into the heart of crime families.

6. Pennyworth

• IMDb: 7.8
• With : Jack Bannon, Ben Aldridge
• Seasons: 3
• Episodes: 30

Despite having different themes and plots, the one aspect in which Pennyworth and The Penguin match the mood is the absence of our beloved caped crusader. Both series take place in the Batman universe, so the first thing fans notice is Batman’s involvement.

Remember Wayne’s family butler, Alfred Pennyworth? This series follows him in his early days, when he was not a servant but a former soldier trying to start his own security agency in London. However, his dreams attract the attention of the mob who want nothing more than the fall of the British government. Therefore, Alfred must fight against all obstacles to achieve his aspirations.

7. Break the evil

• IMDb: 9.5
• With : Brian Cranston
• Seasons: 5
• Episodes: 62

Breaking Bad isn’t based on any comic book series, but if there was a comic book series, it would surely be a better fit for the DC Universe. Walter White’s journey is similar to Oz’s in many ways: both characters decide to delve into the underworld to prove their worth to the world.

The Penguin is about big crime families, and Breaking Bad is full of them. Both TV shows are about underdogs making a name for themselves by playing mind games and bringing down some of the most dangerous drug lords. The Penguin encourages you to support Oz, who is not a good guy. Well, Walter White is no saint either. He’s taking countless innocent lives just so he can become the biggest meth distributor in all of America.

8. Peaky Blinders

• IMDb: 8.7
• With : Cillian Murphy
• Seasons: 6
• Episodes: 36

Peaky Blinders is surely one of the best crime drama series of all time. The series has received several awards due to its unique story and unforgettable characters, including Tommy Shelby. Honestly, Cillian Murphy’s portrayal of Thomas Shelby has become so famous that the character now deserves his own comic book series.

Sure, it’s a pipe dream, but if it becomes a reality, we’d love to see him become a part of DC Comics. For what? Well, because it would be incredibly exciting to see Thomas Shelby and Penguin play mind games with each other. Both characters are not physically strong, but they succeed and become crime lords by taking advantage of their beautiful but dangerous minds.

9. Empire of walks

• IMDb: 8.6
• With : Steve Buscemi
• Seasons: 5
• Episodes: 56

Critically acclaimed for its visual styles and storytelling, Boardwalk Empire is a series in which its main protagonist manipulates even influential political figures to his will. Don’t you think the main character of HBO’s The Penguin, Oz Cobb, does the same? The Penguin is about the crime families that dominate the system and the law of the entire city and Boardwalk Empire doesn’t shy away from shining a light on dangerous crime families.

Boardway Empire revolves around Nucky Thompson, who must contact political figures and gangsters from time to time for the sake of business. The series never reached the heights reached by other series like Peacemaker and Watchmen, but it’s definitely one you shouldn’t miss as a fan of this genre.

10. Sugar

• IMDb: 7.4
• With : Colin Farrell
• Seasons: 1
• Episodes: 8

Sugar is a crime drama series that will never fail to amaze fanatics with its twists and turns, just like The Penguin. On top of that, Sugar’s dark tone and unpredictable characters make us add the series to this list. Also don’t forget that it’s one of the best shows on TV Colin Farrell worked on.

The series revolves around John Sugar, a detective who must solve the mystery of the disappearance of the granddaughter of a famous and wealthy film producer.